Citation Nr: 21001012 Decision Date: 01/06/21 Archive Date: 01/06/21 DOCKET NO. 19-26 158 DATE: January 6, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis secondary to service-connected left foot drop is granted. FINDING OF FACT The probative evidence of record shows the Veteran’s current right knee joint osteoarthritis was caused by falls due to his service-connected left foot drop. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis secondary to service-connected left foot drop are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1111, 1131, 1132; 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from October 1959 to March 1965. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2018 rating decision by the St. Petersburg, Florida, Regional Office (RO) of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veteran testified at a January 5, 2021, virtual hearing held before the undersigned. This decision is being rendered prior to the production of a transcript of that hearing; given the favorable outcome, the Veteran is not prejudiced. The Veteran asserts his right knee osteoarthritis is due to falls he sustained due to his service-connected left foot drop. Service connection may be granted for a disability that is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. The issue before the Board is whether the Veteran’s right knee joint osteoarthritis is proximately due to or the result of or has been aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected foot drop. In a February 2016 letter, Dr. NMB, the Veteran’s private physician, stated that the Veteran’s foot drop has caused numerous tripping incidents which have resulted in multiple injuries. His most recent fall caused extensive right knee damage. In a June 2017 letter, Dr. WHC, the Veteran’s private physician, stated that the Veteran had been a patient at his practice since August 2010. Dr. WHC stated that Veteran recently had a trip and fall injury which resulted in a right knee injury. In a February 2018 letter, Dr. NMB stated that the Veteran had tripped and twisted his right knee. An MRI performed on January 2, 2018 revealed moderate osteoarthritis characterized by spurring of tibial spines and marginal osteophyte formation as well as articular cartilage loss. The Veteran underwent a VA knee examination in March 2018. The VA examiner noted the Veteran’s diagnosis of right knee osteoarthritis. The VA examiner determined that it was less likely than not that the Veteran’s right knee osteoarthritis was proximately due to or caused by the Veteran’s service-connected left foot drop. The VA examiner stated that there was no documentation in medical literature establishing a direct cause and effect relationship between a left foot drop with multiple metatarsal fractures as a cause of isolated OA of the contralateral knee joint with no disease on the ipsilateral knee joint. The Board notes that this opinion did not discuss whether or not the falls the Veteran experienced due to his left foot drop caused his right knee osteoarthritis. In a September 2019 letter, Dr. WHC stated that the Veteran has experienced numerous trip and fall situations which have resulted in many injuries, including injuries to the right knee. He stated that in his medical opinion that these injuries are directly related to the Veteran’s foot drop. At the January 2021 hearing, the Veteran specified that he had not simply injured the right knee is recent falls, but had a long history of falls due to catching the foot on any change in elevation, even slight, when walking. Notably, in an August 2020 Board decision in a separate appellate stream, a history of falls due to the service-connected left foot drop was established, and service connection for right and left shoulder, right pelvis, and spleen injury was granted. Based on the foregoing, the Board finds that the probative evidence of records establishes that the Veteran’s right knee joint osteoarthritis disability is proximately due to falls caused by his service-connected left foot drop. Accordingly, service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis, secondary to service-connected left foot drop, is granted. WILLIAM H. DONNELLY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. M. Lunger, Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.